Balls, Bulls, Bears!

When it comes to pitching prospects, the Baltimore Orioles really know how to stash ‘em. The AL East is stacked full of top-notch, five star, prospects and the Orioles are responsible for the majority of the men on the mound.

Marc Hulet takes a peek at the entire Orioles system:

1. Brian Matusz, LHP, Majors
DOB: February 1987 Bats: Left Throws: Left
Signed: 2008 1st round – University of San Diego
MLB ETA: Now 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 2
Repertoire: 88-94 mph fastball, plus curveball, slider, change-up

2. Josh Bell, 3B, Double-A
DOB: November 1986 Bats: Both Throws: Right
Signed: 2005 4th round – Florida HS (Los Angeles NL)
MLB ETA: mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3

3. , RHP, Double-A
DOB: December 1987 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2005 3rd round – Maryland HS
MLB ETA: Late-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-94 mph fastball, slider, change-up

4. , RHP, Double-A
DOB: March 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2007 5th round – Texas Christian University
MLB ETA: Late-2010 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 87-93 mph fastball, slider, change-up

5. , LHP, High-A
DOB: December 1987 Bats: Left Throws: Left
Signed: 2006 3rd round – Texas HS
MLB ETA: Mid-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-93 mph fastball, slider, curveball, change-up

6. , 1B, Triple-A
DOB: November 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2005 1st round – Virginia HS
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 3

7. Caleb Joseph, C, High-A
DOB: June 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2008 7th round – Lipscomb University
MLB ETA: Late-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3

8. , RHP, Majors
DOB: May 1984 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2006 18th round – Utah Valley State College (Seattle)
MLB ETA: Now 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 2
Repertoire: 89-95 mph fastball, slider, change-up

9. Troy Patton, LHP, Triple-A
DOB: September 1985 Bats: Both Throws: Left
Signed: 2004 9th round – Texas HS (Houston)
MLB ETA: Mid-2010 40-Man Roster: Yes Options: 2
Repertoire: 87-91 mph fastball, slider, change-up

10. , 3B, Double-A
DOB: January 1986 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Signed: 2007 7th round – Wofford College (Cincinnati)
MLB ETA: Late-2010 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3

ESPN pays Keith Law a rather large wad of cash-money to analyze and rank wads of prospects. Law generally offers an interesting top-100 by sticking to his guns regardless of whether or not a player’s improved. If Keith Law says a prospect has a looping swing, it doesn’t matter if the player ever changes his swing; To Keith, nothing’s changed and he’ll proceed to rank that prospect lower than any of the other major sources.

1 , OF, ATL
2 , RHP, WAS
3 , C, CLE
4 , C, SFO
5 , OF, FLA
6 , OF, TAM
7 , LHP, TEX
8 , CF, SEA
9 Justin Smoak, 1B, TEX
10 , C, NYY
11 Brian Matusz, LHP, BAL
12 , SS, CHC
13 , RHP, TEX
14 Domonic Brown, RF, PHI
15 Wade Davis, RHP, TAM
16 Aroldis Chapman, LHP, CIN
17 , RHP, TAM
18 Casey Kelly, RHP, BOS
19 Aaron Hicks, RHP, MIN
20 Brett Wallace, 1B, TOR
21 , 1B, FLA
22 , LHP, COL
23 , RHP, NYM
24 , OF, OAK
25 , LHP, BAL
26 , 3B, CLE
27 , OF, SDG
28 , LHP, SFO
29 Tim Beckham, SS, TAM
30 , 3B, CHC
31 , C, WAS
32 Ryan Westmoreland, OF, BOS
33 , 1B, OAK
34 Eric Hosmer, 1B, KAN
35 Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT
36 , LHP, COL
37 , RHP, ARI
38 Shelby Miller, RHP, STL
39 Dee Gordon, SS, LAD
40 , RHP, TOR
41 , 3B, NYM
42 , C, MIN
43 Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, ATL
44 Carlos Triunfel, 2B, SEA
45 Casey Crosby, LHP, DET
46 Simon Castro, RHP, SDG
47 Brett Lawrie, 2B, MIL
48 , LHP, COL
49 , OF, LAA
50 Jay Jackson, RHP, CHC
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The Orioles system is lookin’ damn fine. You need a left handed pitcher? What about a righty? Power? Control? They’ve got it all.

Will Lingo over at Baseball America puts together the Orioles Top-10 Prospects.

1. Brian Matusz, lhp
2. Josh Bell, 3b
3. , lhp
4. , rhp
5. , rhp
6. , 1b
7. , rhp
8. , rhp
9. Mychal Givens, ss
10. Caleb Joseph, c

John Sickels put together his version of the Baltimore Orioles top prospect list, but originally and inexplicably had Matusz as a B+. Thankfully Sickels has moved Brian Matusz to an A and all is right with the world.

1) Brian Matusz, LHP, Grade A
2) , RHP, Grade B+
3) , LHP, Grade B+
4) Josh Bell, 3B, Grade B
5) , RHP, Grade B
6) , 1B, Grade B-
7) , RHP, Grade B-
8) Mychal Givens, SS, Grade B-
9) , 3B-1B, Grade C+
10) , RHP, Grade C+

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Kevin Goldstein breaks down an Orioles system that contains one of the best lefties out there: Brian Matusz.

Five-Star Prospects
1. Brian Matusz, LHP
Four-Star Prospects
2. Josh Bell, 3B
3. , RHP
4. , LHP
Three-Star Prospects
5. , RHP
6. , RHP
7. Brandon Synder, 1B
8. Mychal Givens, SS
9. Caleb Joseph, C
Two-Star Prospects
10. , 1B/3B
11. Cameron Coffey, RHP

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